NRL Casualty Ward Round 6: James Tedesco’s HIA road, Tom Trbojevic injures hamstring

James Tedesco is no certainty to play the Dragons while Manly have lost Tom Trbojevic and Dylan Walker long term. ALL THE LATEST INJURY NEWS AND NRL PHYSIO ANALYSIS.

Roosters' James Tedesco on the bench after being knocked out by Parramatta's Maika Sivo during NRL match between the Sydney Roosters and Parramatta Eels at Bankwest Stadium. Picture. Phil Hillyard

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In one of the biggest hits of the year, Maika Sivo ran straight over the top of James Tedesco to score a barnstorming try for the Eels.

Unfortunately this left the Roosters star fullback worse for wear, with obvious precaution taken on the field not only for a suspected concussion but also a possible neck injury.

While the medicab was initially brought onto the field Tedesco was able to walk off under his own power, with coach Trent Robinson indicating post-match there didn’t appear to be any further concern for a neck injury.

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James Tedesco will have to pass the HIA protocols after being knocked out against the Eels. Picture: AAP

This will still likely leave Tedesco to pass through the NRL’s 6 stage concussion protocol before Round 7, which involves:

Stage 1. Rest and symptom-limited activity – physical rest and only daily activities that do not provoke or worsen symptoms.

Stage 2. Light Aerobic Exercise – e.g., walk/swim/exercise bike, with heart rate less than 70% of max (no resistance/weight training).

Stage 3. Sport Specific Exercise – e.g. running drills without risk of head contact.

Stage 4. Non-contact training and start resistance (weight) training.

Stage 5. Full contact training – ONLY after medical clearance by a doctor – coaching staff will assess tackling technique and other skills.

Stage 6. Return to play/game.

In encouraging signs, Tedesco (left) was all smiles at full time. Picture: AAP

To progress through each stage Tedesco must be symptom free at each activity level, and if symptoms return at any point he must drop back to the last symptom free stage.

Each of these stages usually requires 24 hours duration, and with the Roosters facing a 6 day turnaround til their Round 7 game Tedesco will have to avoid any setbacks to be available.

A common saying is concussions are like snowflakes; no two are the same. As we have seen in the NRL a player can fail a HIA during the game and not return that day but play the following week, and symptoms can also be persistent or prolonged resulting in multiple weeks on the sideline.

Tom Trbojevic of the Sea Eagles leaves the ground after injuring his hamstring in the 52nd minute. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Manly superstar Tom Trbojevic faces an extended stint on the sidelines after limping off from the ground 52 minutes into a torrid match against the Raiders. Trbojevic injured the same hamstring twice in 2019 and early diagnosis from the club is that the Sea Eagles will be without their first choice fullback for at least six months.

The trouble continues for Des Hasler with confirmation that five-eighth Dylan Walker fractured his ankle and will be out for 8-12 weeks, while centre Brad Parker lasted just four minutes before suffering a concussion.

In judiciary news, Parramatta enforcer Nathan Brown is poised to miss two NRL games for a grade two careless high tackle on Sydney Roosters lock Victor Radley on Saturday night.

It comes just a fortnight after Eels forward Brown returned to the field from a two-week suspension for dangerous conduct in round two.

St George Illawarra winger Jordan Pereira is facing a two-week stint on the sidelines with an early plea, for a grade three careless high tackle on Corey Thompson in Saturday’s win over the Gold Coast.

Alex Twal is assisted from the field. Picture: AAP

Thankfully for Tedesco most players are able to pass through the NRL’s protocol within 6-7 days, but this will be a situation to monitor as the week progresses.

The Tigers are counting the cost of their victory over the Cowboys with 3 players facing time on the sideline. Alex Twal (knee), Robert Jennings (hamstring) and Zane Musgrove (foot) were all unable to finish the game leaving 1 healthy player on the bench.

Twal was assisted from the field after a tackler landed heavily on his lower leg, causing his knee to collapse in. This places pressure on the medial structures of the knee, such as the MCL, and the Tigers’ lock forward was later shown on the sideline with ice strapped to the inside of his knee and crutches in hand.

Scans will confirm the nature and severity of his injury, with the likely concerns being an MCL/medial meniscus injury and to rule out damage to the ACL. Isolated injury to the MCL or meniscus would commonly require 4-8 weeks recovery.

Robert Jennings is also in doubt after suffering a hamstring injury while scoring a try. Picture: AAP

After scoring a try winger Jennings came up clutching at his hamstring and was removed from the game immediately. A hamstring injury suffered during explosive sprinting movements like this bring risk for a moderate to high grade strain, which would see him missing at least a month if confirmed.

Musgrove limped from the game after an extremely innocuous run where he seemed relatively unrestricted by any injury until walking further downfield.

Michael Maguire revealed post-match the interchange forward had suffered a foot injury, with scans once again to confirm the diagnosis.

After initial fears of a complete ACL rupture, the Rabbitohs’ Tom Amone received some better than expected news yesterday with scans revealing only a partial tear. While he did also suffer a high grade MCL injury, there is a good chance both of these issues can be treated conservatively (without surgery).

Young Rabbitoh Tom Amone faces a lengthy stint on the sideline. Picture: Getty

Amone will have a specialist review this week to assess his scans and the stability of his knee joint, and if there is stability maintained he will likely commence a 10-12 week rehab program.

Unfortunately there is no guarantee he will be able to avoid surgery; if the knee joint shows signs of instability or the damage is too significant an ACL reconstruction will need to be performed, ending his season.

The Titans were another team hit with multiple injury concerns in Round 6, leaving Suncorp Stadium with Corey Thompson (head/jaw), Young Tonumaipea (knee) and Phillip Sami (hamstring) licking their wounds.

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Corey Thompson has escaped a possible broken jaw but will still need to prove his fitness ahead of their clash with the Broncos on Saturday.

The former Tigers fullback played just 24 minutes for his new club in Saturday’s loss to the Dragons after copping a high shot from opposition winger Jordan Pereira.

There were initial concerns that Thompson had broken his jaw, but the club confirmed on Sunday the worst had been avoided.

The 30-year-old is still required to pass HIA protocols this week to prove he is fit to play.

It comes as the club have also lost centre Young Tonumaipea to a suspected medial cruciate ligament injury in his knee.

The 27-year-old is set to have scans this week to reveal the extent of the injury.

It leaves the club light on in the backs, with Dale Copley also sidelined with an ankle injury and Phillip Sami injuring his hamstring on Saturday.

By Chris Honnery

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Corey Thompson was laid out in a high tackle during his Titans debut. Picture: Getty

Head injuries and concussion caused further carnage for the Warriors this round, with David Fusitu’a and Lachlan Burr unable to return in the second half after failing HIA’s. For Burr it is his second concussion in the past month, so while both players have to pass through the NRL’s 6 stage concussion protocol it would not be a surprise to see Burr’s return to play be treated with caution.

The Cowboys suffered a heavy loss to the Tigers and don’t look to be receiving any help from returning players next week, with coach Paul Green indicating Jordan McLean (calf) and Valentine Holmes (ankle) are both at least another week away. This comes after captain Michael Morgan underwent a surgical washout on his previously surgically repaired shoulder this week due to an infection in the joint. He isn’t expected to return for a further 6-8 weeks.

JUDICIARY WATCH

Parramatta enforcer Nathan Brown is poised to miss two NRL games for a grade two careless high tackle on Sydney Roosters lock Victor Radley on Saturday night. It comes just a fortnight after Brown returned to the field from a two-week suspension for dangerous conduct in round two.

Roosters lock Radley has been issued with a fine for a high hit on Eels captain Clint Gutherson from the same match.

St George Illawarra’s Jordan Pereira is facing a two-week stint on the sidelines with an early plea for a grade three careless high tackle on Corey Thompson in Saturday’s win over the Gold Coast. Should the Dragons winger fight the charge at the judiciary he risks a three- week ban if he is unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, Wests Tigers duo Harry Grant and Sam McIntyre will escape suspension with early guilty pleas for grade one dangerous contact charges stemming from Saturday’s win over North Queensland.

Their teammate Josh Aloiai has been fined for contrary conduct.

- by Pamela Whaley AAP

FULL CASUALTY WARD

BRISBANE BRONCOS

Jack Bird (ACL, season)

Jordan Kahu (Shoulder, Mid-season)

Sean O’Sullivan (ACL, Mid-season)

Keenan Palasia (ACL, Late-season)

Izaia Perese (Stood down)

Jake Turpin (Tibia, Round 8-10)

Kotoni Staggs (Hamstring, 8-10)

Jesse Arthars (Tibia, Round 9-12)

David Fifita (Knee, Round 10-12)

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS

Marcelo Montoya (Hamstring, Round 10)

Chris Smith (Knee, round 11)

Joe Stimson (Shoulder, season)

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS

Michael Morgan (Shoulder, round 12-14)

John Asiata (Knee, round 8-10)

Valentine Holmes (Ankle, round 8)

Jordan McLean (Calf, round 8)

ST GEORGE-ILLAWARRA DRAGONS

Jack de Belin (Stood down)

Brayden Williame (Calf, round 10)

Tariq Sims (Wrist, round 10)

PARRAMATTA EELS

Kane Evans (Suspended, round 7)

Nathan Brown (Judiciary, TBC)

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

Mitchell Barnett (Shoulder, Round 8-10)

Jayden Brailey (Knee, Season)

Connor Watson (Ankle, round 8-10)

PENRITH PANTHERS

Kurt Capewell (Hamstring, round 16-17)

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS

Tom Amone (Knee, TBC)

Hame Sele (Hamstring, round 8-9)

CANBERRA RAIDERS

John Bateman (Shoulder, round 10-12)

Sebastian Kris (extended leave)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS

Billy Smith (ACL, Season)

James Tedesco (HIA, TBC)

MANLY SEA EAGLES

Albert Hopoate (Knee, Round 8)

Manase Fainu (Stood down/shoulder, Indefinite)

Jorge Taufua (Leg, round 7)

Martin Taupau (Thumb, round 8)

Moses Suli (Knuckle, 7-9)

Tom Trbojevic (Hamstring, round 13)

Dylan Walker (Foot, round 15-16)

Brad Parker (HIA, TBC)

CRONULLA SHARKS

Bronson Xerri (Stood down)

Cameron King (ACL, Season)

Matt Moylan (Hamstring, round 6-7)

Ronaldo Mulitalo (Knee, round 9)

MELBOURNE STORM

Tui Kamikamica (Back, round 7-8)

Jahrome Hughes (Hand, round 7-8)

GOLD COAST TITANS

AJ Brimson (Back, Indefinite)

Beau Fermor (Knee, mid season)

Tyrone Roberts (Ankle, round 6)

Ryan James (ACL, Season)

Dayle Copley (Ankle, TBC)

Young Tonumaipea (Knee, TBC)

Corey Thompson (HIA, TBC)

Phillip Sami (Hamstring, TBC)

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS

Kan Maumalo (Hamstring, round 7)

Taane Milne (ACL, Season)

Jazz Tevaga (Calf, round 8-10)

Nathaniel Roache (Knee, Mid-season)

Jackson Frei (ACL, Season)

Bunty Afoa (ACL, Season)

Leeson Ah Mau (Pectoral, season)

Lachlan Burr (HIA, TBC)

David Fusitu’a (HIA, TBC)

WESTS TIGERS

Jacob Liddle (Knee, Indefinite)

Russell Packer (Suspended, round 8)

Alex Twal (Knee, TBC)

Robert Jennings (Hamstring, TBC)

Zane Musgrove (Foot, TBC)